Paramount Pictures has acquired the screen rights to the forthcoming Putnam novel DRACUL, a prequel to Bram Stoker’s classic Dracula. Andy Muschietti, whose highly-anticipated adaptation of Stephen King’s It opens in theaters this weekend, is attached to direct.

Dacre StokerCredit: Todd Lisa Studio

Co-written by Bram Stoker’s great-grandnephew Dacre Stoker and author J.D. Barker, DRACUL is the first Dracula prequel to be authorized by the Stoker estate. The story, which is based on the missing, never-published first 100 pages of the original Dracula manuscript, centers around a 21-year-old Bram Stoker meeting an ungodly, evil being, who he traps in an ancient tower for the longest, most horrific night of his life. This evil being goes on to be the subject of Stoker’s iconic novel.

News of Putnam Executive Editor Mark Tavani’s book acquisition and the Paramount Pictures deal was featured in multiple outlets this week, including Deadline, Variety, i09, AV Club, Publishers Weekly and Publishers Lunch. DRACUL is scheduled for publication by Putnam in Fall 2018.